Token for a check-controlled system



Dec. 22, 1959 W. I. SHLANK TOKEN FOR A CHECK-CONTROLLED SYSTEM Filed April 29, 1958 TOKEN FOR A CHECK-CONTROLLED SYSTEM William I. Shlank, New Haven, Conn, assignor to William I. Shlank, Meyer E. Baiiey, Albert R. Benenson, and Maurice H. Bailey, all of New Haven, Conn, a partnership Application April 29, 1958, Serial No. 731,755

2 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) The present invention relates to check controlled systems generally, and in particular to a token for use in a check controlled system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a token for a check controlled system which lends itself for use in any system which is controlled by a check or token.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a token for a check controlled system which is adaptable for use in a television receiver system of the subscriber type.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a token for a check controlled system which may be manufactured in an infinite variety of forms, and may be manufactured in quantity upon existing machinery.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a check controlled system with the token of the present invention in use therein,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the token of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 of a modified form of the token, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of still another modified form of the token of the present invention.

In Figure 1, the token of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 12 and is seen to be at the lower end of the coin chute 14 in electrical contact with a pair of contacts 16 and 18, one on each side of the token 12.

As shown in Figure 3, the token 12 is constructed of two metallic elements 20 and 22 separated by a dielectric material element 24. The token 12 is, in efiect, a capacitor and is shown in Figure 1 to be in an oscillating nited States Patent 0 Patented Dec. 22, 1959 circuit which includes a pair of sharply tuned coils 26 and 28, a variable resistor 30, and a diode 32.

This oscillating circuit may be used to trigger a relay 34 for energization of an implement, such as the incandescent lamp bulb 36.

If used in a television receiver it may be desirable to include a timer 38 and a coin release mechanism as at 40 controlled by the timer 38.

In Figure 4 a token 42 is shown in which three layers .of metallic substance 44, 46 and 48 are separated by two layers of a dielectric material, such last two layers being designated by the reference numerals 50 and 52.

In Figure 5 the token is more complex and has seven layers in all, four being of metallic substance and the intervening three being of a dielectric material, the latter token being designated by the reference numeral 54.

In each case, the token of the present invention 12, 42 or 54, has both of its faces electrically connected in the circuit of the apparatus with which it is to be used when the token is inserted in such circuit through such means as a chute 14, or other means. The token of the present invention may be constructed with any predetermined capacitance, so that the oscillating circuit into which it is introduced will oscillate at the required frequency in order that the contracted apparatus be energized as desired.

While here being shown as being insertable into a circuit which includes the relay 34, other means may be used to feed the output of the circuit to a device to be energized.

What is claimed is:

1. In a check controlled system, a check constructed of at least two metallic elements separated by a dielectric material element, a circuit including a pair of spaced contacts into which said check may be inserted, said check when inserted in said circuit having one face in direct engagement with one of said contacts and having the other face in direct engagement with the other of said contacts causing said circuit to oscillate at a predetermined frequency.

2. In an electronic system, a circuit including a pair of spaced contacts, a relay, and a source of electrical energy, and a coin-shaped check constructed of at least two metallic elements electronically separated by a dielectric material element and having a predetermined capacitance when introduced between and in direct engagement with said contacts closing said circuit to cause the circuit to oscillate at a predetermined frequency and energize said relay.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 451,694 Great Britain May 9, 1935 

